Comparison

Dots + Boxes vs Dots and Boxes (Dot Game)

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Dots + Boxes

Enjoy the classic pencil-and-paper game of Dots and Boxes on your mobile device. Challenge a friend or play against the AI in this simple yet engaging puzzle game. Track scores and enjoy customizable gameplay with fun graphics and sound.

Highlights
  • One and two-player modes
  • Play against AI
  • Demo mode
  • Configurable player names
  • Score tracking
  • Configurable AI difficulty
  • Undo function
Features
Read full description

Put away your pencil and paper, now you can play the classic Dot Game right on your iPhone or iPod Touch. Dots Free is the highest quality Dots and Boxes game available for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and we're giving it away for free. Dots and Boxes is a very simple game. Two players take turns drawing lines between dots on the game board. When a player draws a line that completes a box, the player "owns" that box. Whoever owns more boxes when the game board is full is the winner. Dots Free supports one player and two player gameplay, so you can play against another human or against your iPhone. If you're really bored, you can even put the game in demo mode and watch your iPhone play itself. Dots Free offers a host of exciting features, including: * Killer graphics and awesome sound effects * Configurable player names and score tracking * Configurable 1 player difficulty level * Undo function * Automatic save when you exit the app or receive a phone call Dots Free is supported by unobtrusive banner advertising.

About

Dots and Boxes (Dot Game)

Connect dots to draw lines and strategically close squares to claim territory. Compete against AI or friends in this classic strategy game with multiple modes and colorful themes. Perfect for brain training and casual fun for all ages.

Highlights
  • Connect dots to draw lines
  • Close squares to claim territory
  • Single-player and multiplayer modes
  • Multiple difficulty levels
  • Squares and triangles modes
  • Colorful themes
Features
Read full description

Your goal is to connect the dots and close the squares! The classic: Dots and Boxes, also known as: Dot Game, Squares, Pigs in a Pen, Paddocks and Line Game Dots & Boxes is a simple and fun game. If you enjoy Checkers, Dominoes, Chess, Backgammon, and brainy challenges, you'll adore Dots and Boxes. Play solo or Multiplayer with your friends. This game tailors challenges to your skills with several different difficulty levels. Tap dots to draw lines and seal squares. Win by claiming more squares (or triangles) before lines run out. Dots and Boxes Key features: • Several different maps • Squares & Triangles mode • Multiplayer • Local 2-player mode • Colorful themes for endless fun • Easy to learn, tough to master • Fun for all ages • Awesome brain training

Screenshots

Dots + Boxes4 screens
Dots and Boxes (Dot Game)4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Dots + Boxes at 4.4 against Dots and Boxes (Dot Game)'s 3.0. Dots + Boxes also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Dots and Boxes (Dot Game) sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Dots + Boxes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Dots + Boxes holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dots + Boxes has 2.4K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Dots + Boxes's written reviews are positive against 67% of Dots and Boxes (Dot Game)'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dots + Boxes ships an update every 2 months, Dots and Boxes (Dot Game) every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Dots + Boxes versus Dots and Boxes (Dot Game): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDots + BoxesDots and Boxes (Dot Game)
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (2.4K ratings) — better3.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews76.5% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings2.4K — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 17 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB68 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOptime Software LLCRoghan Games

Customer experience

Dots + Boxes

All ratings2,423 ratings
Positive84.5%
Neutral6.3%
Negative9.2%
Written reviews784 reviews
Positive76.5%
Neutral11.4%
Negative12.1%

Dots and Boxes (Dot Game)

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Dots + Boxes

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Crashes on launch for some users
  • Redirects to App Store unexpectedly

Requested features

4 requests
  • Larger game board sizes
  • Harder difficulty levels
  • Different color options for players
  • Online/multiplayer mode

Dots and Boxes (Dot Game)

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Dots + Boxes

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Dots and Boxes (Dot Game)

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$1.99

Questions

Is Dots + Boxes free?
Dots + Boxes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Dots and Boxes (Dot Game) free?
Dots and Boxes (Dot Game) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Dots + Boxes or Dots and Boxes (Dot Game)?
Dots + Boxes is rated higher. Dots + Boxes averages 4.4 out of 5 from 2.4K ratings, while Dots and Boxes (Dot Game) averages 3.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Dots + Boxes or Dots and Boxes (Dot Game) have ads?
Dots and Boxes (Dot Game) shows ads; Dots + Boxes does not.
Which is updated more often, Dots + Boxes or Dots and Boxes (Dot Game)?
Dots + Boxes ships an update every 2 months, and Dots and Boxes (Dot Game) every 17 months. Most recently, Dots + Boxes was updated on October 10, 2026 and Dots and Boxes (Dot Game) on October 8, 2026.

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